Automatic release device



y 1962 w. c. SIEVERTS 3,034,750

AUTOMATIC RELEASE DEVICE Filed June 15, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet l y 1962 w. c. SIEVERTS 3,034,750

AUTOMATIC RELEASE DEVICE Filed June 15, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 lwenfioaw m C. dz'eveflw, 45.39 P Quite e 3.44m

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Filed June 15, 1959 AUTOMATIC RELEASE DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 nee 8 1/6 1190 Y 1&4 Ila 96 Q6 /06\ O /o 7 80 J 88 so M a A" 86 MANUAL VALVE WATER PRESSURE VALVE COMPRESSED GAS LIFE RAFT 3,034,750 Patented May 15, 1%62 3,034,750 AUTGMATIC RELEASE DEVICE William C. Sieverts, River St., Kingston, Mass. Filed June 15, 1959, Ser. No. 820,376 4 Claims. (Cl. 244-150) This invention relates to an improvement on my US. Patent 2,707,605 issued May 3, 1955, the invention comprising the addition of a safety time delay mechanism to the automatic parachute release therein shown. The present invention also concerns certain modifications of my earlier invention permitting it to be used to inflate a life jacket or raft at a predetermined level of water pressure.

As shown in my US. Patent No. 2,707,605, a flyer about to bail out of his plane would pull a safety latch thereby permitting his automatic chute opening mechanism to function at a predetermined altitude. However, as there shown, should the plane already be flying at or below the predetermined altitude, there is no provision in the automatic mechanism to delay the opening of the parachute while the pilot is clearing the plane. In other words, the parachute actuating mechanism might function during the time consumed by the pilot in getting free from the cockpit between the time the safety latch is pulled and clearing the plane. Thus, it is necessary that the pilot pull the safety only after freeing himself and making certain that he and his opening chute will clear the plane, if he bails out at an altitude below which his automatic chute opening device is set to function. The drawbacks of such a procedure are obvious. In addition to the other things a pilot must do and remember in an emergency, he must also check to see whether he is above or below the altitude at which his opening mechanism is set to work; if above the altitude he may pull the safety catch before leaving, if not then he must wait until out of the plane and safely clear before doing so. No provision is made for a pilot knocked unconscious or otherwise incapacitated in the process of leaving or being ejected from a plane flying at an altitude lower than the altitude at which the automatic mechanism is set to operate.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide automatic or semi-automatic means for delaying the operation of an automatic parachute release such :as that shown in US. Patent No. 2,707,605.

A flyer, after bailing out of his plane and after settling to earth in his parachute might land in water; he could drown if unconscious or otherwise rendered incapable of actuating his life jacket inflating mechanism. The modification of my earlier invention herein described provides for such a possibility. Therefore it is another object of this invention to provide a water pressure sensitive device for actuating the inflating mechanism of a life jacket. It is an additional object of this invention to provide such a pressure sensitive device that is compact in a relatively simple and reliable construction.

Furthermore, it is not uncommon that uninflated life rafts will be jettisoned by planes at the same time as their pilots are ejected. Frequently, they are thrown overboard in an uninflated state following a maritime or air accident. For inflation purposes these raft packages contain bottles of compressed gas which are usually opened by means of manually operated valves. The packages, containing gas bottles, a folded raft and perhaps food and water supplies, often are quite heavy and tend to sink unless inflated immediately. But in a disaster it may be some time before this can be done, consequently the life raft and its contents may be lost. Thus it is still another object of this invention to provide a water pressure sensitive mechanism for inflating such life raft package units soon after they sink below the surface of the water.

A further object of my invention is to provide such a mechanism with an indicator which is easily viewable and which will indicate whet-her or not the operative components are in a cocked position ready for operation.

These and other objects of the invention will become more apparent as the description proceeds with the aid of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred form of my safety time delay mechanism incorporated with a partially modified version of the automatic parachute opening mechanism described in my US. Patent No. 2,707,605;

FIG. 2 is a vertical section through the center showing the parts in latched or cocked position in solid lines and in released position in phantom;

FIG. 3 is an elevation of the device with its cover removed with the parts shown in cocked position in solid lines and in released position in phantom. The positions of the three internal bellows is also shown in phantom;

FIG. 4 is a vertical section on the line 4-'4 of FIG. 3 showing the various parts in a latched or cocked posi tron;

FIG. 5 is an elevation of the water pressure operated life jacket inflator embodiment of my invention;

FIG. '6 is an elevation of the same device with the cover removed and showing the parts in their latched position prior to actuation of the device;

FIG. 7 is a vertical section to the center of the same device showing in solid line the parts in latched position, and in phantom the parts in the released or actuated position;

FIG. 8 is a section of the same device, similar in all operational respects to the device shown in FIGS. 5,

6 and 7 except for the substitution of an airtight membrane for the sealed end of a gas cylinder as the target for the released puncturing pin; and

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing the life raft inflator embodiment of my invention in relation to a gas cylinder, a manual valve and an inflatable raft.

In the preferred form of my invention, shown in FIGS. l-4, the device in its basic organization comprises a supporting casing and housing referred to generally at 2. integrally associated with housing 2 is a cylinder and piston unit 4 and a cartridge chamber 6 The cartridge chamber 6 is in turn operatively associated with an altitude release bellows 8 and a safety time delay mechanism comprising a pair of interconnecting fluid filled bellows l0 and 12, bellows 10 having a latch pin 1'4 protruding from it. Bellows 12 also has a catch pin 16 protruding from it releasably engaged by a safety catch 18, the catch being actuated manually by pull wire 20. A puncture pin unit comprises a latch arm 22 connected in actuating relationship to a latch 24 which releasab-ly engages toggle linkage 25 connected with puncture pin 28, the power for which is provided by spring 30. An indicating device 32 is actuated by the toggle linkage 26. It will be noted that the hook end of arm 24 is at a slope with respect to lip 44 of the toggle linkage so that upon release of arm 22 by bellows 8, the pressure of spring 30 on the linkage will force arm 24 downwardly sufficiently to free the linkage. By this arrangement only a single spring is needed.

The various parts are so interrelated that when a pilot jerks pull wire 20, catch pin 16 is released permitting fluid to flow slowly from bellows 10 into bellows 12 permitting latch pin 14 to be withdrawn. If, at that point, the pilot is below a predetermined altitude, the release bellows 8 will have contracted sufliciently to remove latch pin 40 permitting the latch arm 22 to fly forward releasing spring loaded toggle linkage 26 in the manner already explained and forcing puncture pin 28 into compressed gas cartridge 34 seated in the cartridge chamber 6. The escaping gas actuates the piston unit 4 which in turn opens the parachute.

As can best be seen in FIGS. 2 and 4, mounted within the housing 2 are the already referred to time delay bellows and 12 connected by a thin tube 36 through which their fluid contents can freely but slowly pass. Bellows 10 and 12 are fixed to the inside of easing 2. A pressure spring 38 is operably connected with bellows 10 and exerts a compressive force against its liquid contents. The latch pin 14 is attached to the end of bellows 10 and catch pin 16 to the end of bellows 12. The release bellows 8 also mounted in housing 2 is adjustable to control the altitude at which pin 40 will be withdrawn. If above the predetermined altitude pin 40 will be in the way of arm 22. If below pin 40 will be clear of arm 22.

Toggle linkage 26 is connected at its upper end to puncture pin 28 and at its lower end to frame 2 at a pivot point 42. In its latched position shown by the solid lines in FIG. 2, toggle linkage 26 is engaged at a lip 44 by the latch book 24. Connected to toggle linkage 26 at a pivot 46 and providing a guide for the power spring 30 is the indicator 32. When the mechanism is in its cocked or latched position end 48 of indicator 32 is viewable through an opening 50 in the center of an indicator cap 52.

The puncture pin 28 is fitted into a pin guide sleeve 54 leading to a compressed gas cartridge 34 which mounts in the cartridge chamber 6'. The puncture pin 28 is sufficiently long so that when the two sections of toggle linkage 26 are at dead center position puncture end 56 of pin 28 protrudes through the seal on the end of cartridge 34. Toggle linkage 26 is so designed that after passing through dead center position propelled by spring 30 it causes puncture end 56 to be slightly withdrawn from the seal of cartridge 34 thus releasing gas through a passageway 58 to cylinder and piston unit 4.

The latch arm 22 and its manner of release are best explained with particular reference to FIG. 3 which is essentially the mechanism shown in FIG. 2 with the addition of a plate 60 through which catch pin 16, latch pins 14 and 40 and a pivot member 62 protrude. Latch arm 22 is pivotally connected with latch hook 24 by means of pivot member 62 and when the mechanism is in latched position preparatory to operation latch arm 22 is retained in a position shown by the solid lines in FIG. 3. With pull wire 20 and catch 18 in a cocked or latched position, also shown by the solid lines in FIG. 3, catch pin 16 is held in a depressed or withdrawn position. Therefore, since the liquid contents of the two bellows 10 and 12 is suflicient to allow only one of the pins on the two bellows to protrude above plate 60 at a time, latch pin 14 protrudes and holds latch arm 22 in place. Depending upon the altitude, latch pin 40 at the end of release bellows 8 may or may not protrude. Pull wire 20 and catch pin 16 held down by safety catch 18 thus constitute a positive safety which prevents actuation of the mechanism until desired. Openings 50 and 64 provide means whereby the air pressure outside the mechanism can be transrnitted to release bellows 8 within. Cover 66 removably attached to the housing 2 provides easy access for resetting the mechanism.

The delay in the withdrawal of pin 14 may be controlled by varying the size of tube 36 or the strength of spring 38 or the viscosity of the fluid in the bellows 10 and 12 or otherwise.

Having described in detail the construction of the invention, I will now explain the manner in which it is used.

At the commencement of a flight the mechanism will be put in a latched position as shown by the solid lines in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4. Indicator end 48 will be visible through opening 50 showing that the mechanism is cocked and ready for operation. A compressed gas cartridge 34 is inserted and secured in the cartridge chamber 6. As the plane rises above the predetermined altitude latch pin '40 on the release bellows 8 will move to the position 4 shown in FIG. 4, additionally blocking arm 22 along with latch pin 14 on bellows 10.

When the pilot ascertains that it is necessary to bail out he prepares everything for departure and just before climbing out or actuating his seat ejection mechanism, jerks the pull wire 20. Catch 18 turning at pivot point 67, frees pin 16, and spring 38 which has been under compression begins to compress bellows 10 and to force part of the contents of bellows 10 through tube 36 into bellows 12 thus causing pin 14 to gradually withdraw from the surface of plate 60. The time during which this occurs, that is, the withdrawing of pin 14, is made sufliciently long to allow the pilot to fully clear the plane before his chute is opened by the subsequent functioning of the device.

The latch arm 22 freed of pin 14 can then move slightly until it rests against latch pin 40 on the release bellows 8. At a predetermined altitude atmospheric pressure compresses the bellow-s 8 enough to withdraw latch pin 40 from the arc path of latch arm 22 thus permitting the latch arm to move forward to the position shown in phantom in FIG. 3, impelled by the pressure of lip 44 against the sloping surface of the end of hook 24. As latch arm 22 swings forward to the position shown in phantom in FIG. 3, latch 24 swings downwardly to release toggle linkage 26 which freely impelled by spring 30, passes from a first retracted position through a dead center position to a second retracted position. As it does so, puncture pin 28 is forced upward in the guide sleeve 54 into the sealed end of the compressed gas cartridge 34. The gas so released then enters the cylinder and piston 4 is given sufiicient downward impetus to pull the rip cord opening the chute. I

The embodiment of my invention shown in FIGS. 57 is employed to inflate life jackets when submerged to a predetermined depth. It utilizes many of the elements of my preferred embodiment already described but eliminates the necessity of having a safety time delay mechanism and a cylinder and piston unit. As a result it is a much more compact and less elaborate unit making it inexpensive to produce and easy to attach to the conventional inflatable life jacket.

FIG. 7 shows the various working parts of the life jacket inflator modification arranged in a housing 68. A compressed gas cartridge 70 is held in a cartridge holder 72 and a passage 74 adjacent to the sealed end of the cartridge leads to a connection 76 for a life jacket inflating hose. A puncturing pin 78 is connected to toggle linkage 80 pivoted to frame 68 at pivot 82. An indicator 84 which is visible outside of the casing 68 through opening 86 is attached to a joint 88 of toggle linkage 80 and acts as a spring guide for a power spring 90. Latch 92, pivoted on pivot member 94, releasably engages toggle linkage 80 in a latched position as shown by solid lines in FIG. 7. Also secured within the casing is a water pressure sensitive bellows 96 with latch pin 98 attached to its upper surface. A plate 100, shown in FIG. 6, is secured over these parts with latch pin 98 and pivot member 94 protruding through the said plate. Latch arm 102 is attached to pivot member 94 to be held in a latched or cocked position by arm hook 104 which is pivoted at 105. Arm hook 104 is in turn held in a latched position by the normally protruding latch pin 98 attached to bellows 96. Another plate 106 encloses the mechanism and protects the workings from damage, while openings 86, 108 and 110 permit water to enter and actuate the bellows 96.

In operation, this embodiment of my invention is attached to the deflated life jacket connection at 76. If the wearer is unconscious or otherwise incapable of manually actuating a life jacket inflating mechanism upon entering the water, the present embodiment of my invention will do it for him as soon as he sinks below the surface to a certain predetermined depth, let us say 3 feet. At that point bellows 96 is sufficiently compressed to cause latch pin 98 to release arm hook 104 which, impelled by arm 102 acting under the influence spring which urges hook 92 counterclockwise, turns clockwise to release latch arm 102. As latch arm 102 swings it permits pivot member 94 to release toggle linkage 80. -As the linkage 80 reaches dead center position, puncture pin 78 is thrust through the sealed end of cartridge 70; and as linkage 80 continues to a retracted position, puncture pin 78 is Withdrawn from cartridge 70. Compressed gas is thereby permitted to escape through passage 74 to inflate the attached jacket.

In the embodiment of my invention shown in FIG. 8 an internal mechanism in every way similar to that just described as shown in FIGS. 7, is used to drive a pin through an air tight membrane or seal thus automatically inflating a life raft. In this embodiment, instead of a puncture pin directly opening a compressed gas cartridge it opens an alternate passage through which compressed gas stored in a large bottle can pass into and inflate a life raft.

Housing 112 is formed with a threaded portion 114 suitable for receiving a puncture valve fitting 116. Passage 118 in the puncture valve fitting 116 leads to a compressed gas valve while passage 120 leads to a life raft. An air tight membrane or seal 122 separates the two passages and is so positioned with reference to pin 124 that when the puncture pin is fully extended puncturing end 126 will rupture the seal 122. When pin 124 is withdrawn by its actuating mechanism compressed gas is permitted to pass through the passage 118, past the ruptured membrane 122, to passage 120 and into the life raft. A source of compressed gas 128 is connected to a deflated raft through both a manually operated valve 132 and the present invention indicated by the symbol 134. Thus, if persons are nearby when the raft pack enters the water it can be inflated by use of the conventional manually operated valve 132. If, however, the raft should sink before it is reached, the mechanism'134 will inflate it.

It is my intention to cover all changes and modifications of the example of the invention herein shown for purposes of the disclosure which do not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the claims.

I claim:

1. For use with an automatic parachute release mechanism of the type which includes a pivoted lever arm which when allowed to move through a predetermined angle permits said parachute release mechanism to function; means for delaying the actuation of said mechanism until said mechanism has fallen to a predetermined altitude and at least a predetermined time has elapsed following the manual starting of the time period, said delaying means comprising a first sealed gas filled compressible bellows fixed at one end in a casing, means for preventing compression of said first bellows until the atmospheric pressure exceeds a predetermined degree, an axially disposed first pin attached to the movable end of said bellows and located to intercept the said lever arm so long as atmospheric pressure is less than said predetermined degree, a second fluid filled bellows adjacent and parallel to said first bellows, said second bellows fixed at one end in said casing and being normally extended under the influence of hydraulic pressure therewithin, a spring normally urging said second bellows toward compressed condition, an axially disposed pin attached to the movable end of said second bellows, said second pin normally in a position to intercept said lever arm, a third bellows fixed with respect to said first and second bellows and filled with hydraulic fluid and connected by a conduit leading to said second bellows so that when a suflicient compressive force is applied to said third bellows said second bellows will be in said normally extended position and when said compressive force is removed from said third bellows the said spring associated with said second bellows will compress said second bellows forcing fluid through said conduit to elongate said third bellows, manually movable means for releasably holding said third bellows in compressed condition whereby upon release of said movable means said second bellows will be compressed by said spring and said second pin will be moved out of intercepting position with said lever arm after a predetermined lapse of time wherebysaid parachute release mechanism will be actuated thereafter as soon as said first bellows has been subjected .to atmospheric pressure in excess of said predetermined degree to move said first pin out of intercepting position with said lever arm.

2, The construction set forth in claim 1, said three bellows being mounted on a common wall of said casing, a second wall spaced therefrom, with the three bellows located between the two said walls, the pins of said first and second bellows extending through apertures in said second wall, and a third wall parallel to said second wall, said lever arm mounted on a shaft at right angles to said walls and swingable between said second and third walls, the manually movable means for maintaining said third bellows in compressed position pivoted on said second wall, said third wall removably secured to said second wall whereby upon removal of said third wall said lever arm and second and third bellows may be re-set into actuating position.

3. Actuation delay means for actuating an automatic parachute release only after the elapse of at least a predetermined .time following manual starting thereof and only when the atmospheric pressure is no less than a predetermined degree, said means comprising a sealed gas filled first bellows fixed at one end, means at the other end for preventing further elongation of said bellows when the atmospheric pressure decreases below a prede termined degree, a first pin on the movable end of said first bellows, a second sealed bellows and a third sealed bellows each having one end fixed, said second and third bellows connected by a conduit, said second and third bellows and conduit filled with fiuid, whereby compression of said third bellows will cause elongation of said second bellows and vice versa, means for limiting the elongation of said second bellows, a second pin on the movable end of said second bellows, manually releasable means for holding said third bellows in compressed condition whereby said second bellows is maintained in expanded condition, spring means for forcing said second bellows to compressed condition upon release of said manually releasable means, a housing enclosing said first, second, and third bellows, a lever arm pivoted on an axis parallel to the axes of said first and second bellows, the swinging plane of said lever arm intersecting the said first and second pins when said first and second bellows are in elongated condition, means constantly urging said lever arm toward said pins whereby when both said pins have been withdrawn from the path of said lever arm by compression of the first and second bellows, said lever arm may swing through a predetermined arc and thereby trigger the parachute release means.

4. Means for triggering release of a parachute, said means comprising 'a first fluid filled compressible bellows, a second fluid filled compressible bellows, said bellows connected by a relatively small tube through which their fluid contents is free to flow, means for releasably holding said first bellows in a compressed position, pin means on said second bellows for releasably engaging the controlling element of the mechanism to be actuated, spring means operably connected with said second bellows for urging said fiuid from said second bellows into said first bellows when said means for holding said firs-t bellows in a compressed position is released, thereby causing said pin means connected with said second bellows to release said controlling element of said triggering means to be actuated, a third gas filled bellows, pin means on said I third bellows for releasably engaging the said controlling element so long as the atmospheric pressure is less than a predetermined degree, said first, second and third bellows References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,165,954 Bird et a1. July 11, 1939 8 Turner Apr. 27, Tobias Aug. 2, Kuntz Oct. 10, Turner May 6, Hatfield Apr. 27, Sieverts May 3, 'Butterfield et al. Feb. 7, Servanty June 30,

FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain July 27, 

